Spring brings the warmer weather but it also comes with less welcome guests – ticks and fleas. You may think that your cat being indoor-only would be protected from parasites but this is often not the case.
Feral cats and other animals, such as rats and dogs, roaming through a neighbourhood can easily spread fleas and ticks through backyards and under your home. Even human visitors can bring them in on their clothing or shoes.
To reduce the risk of infestation, make sure you keep your garden tidy and consider using beneficial nematodes or pyrethrum to reduce fleas outside. Make sure your cat can’t reach or eat any plant that has been sprayed. Non-toxic treatments for inside your house include dusting, vacuuming, mopping and regularly washing your pet’s bedding. Spraying the inside of your vacuum cleaner with tea tree oil will help kill any fleas you vacuum up and keep your pets safe from exposure.
If you want to reduce the use of chemical insecticides, a cheap and effective way is using aluminium barbeque trays. Fill the trays halfway with soapy water and put a tealight candle on a stand in the middle. Place these trays in various rooms overnight and light the candles. The candle light attracts the adult fleas who drown in the water. Make sure you don’t have children or inquisitive pets who can disturb the trays!
Finally treat your cat with a flea treatment or comb them daily with a flea comb. You can find effective flea and other parasite treatments at pet stores or your local vet.
Feral cats and other animals, such as rats and dogs, roaming through a neighbourhood can easily spread fleas and ticks through backyards and under your home. Even human visitors can bring them in on their clothing or shoes.
To reduce the risk of infestation, make sure you keep your garden tidy and consider using beneficial nematodes or pyrethrum to reduce fleas outside. Make sure your cat can’t reach or eat any plant that has been sprayed. Non-toxic treatments for inside your house include dusting, vacuuming, mopping and regularly washing your pet’s bedding. Spraying the inside of your vacuum cleaner with tea tree oil will help kill any fleas you vacuum up and keep your pets safe from exposure.
If you want to reduce the use of chemical insecticides, a cheap and effective way is using aluminium barbeque trays. Fill the trays halfway with soapy water and put a tealight candle on a stand in the middle. Place these trays in various rooms overnight and light the candles. The candle light attracts the adult fleas who drown in the water. Make sure you don’t have children or inquisitive pets who can disturb the trays!
Finally treat your cat with a flea treatment or comb them daily with a flea comb. You can find effective flea and other parasite treatments at pet stores or your local vet.
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